EP0217095A2 - Method of producing low-ohmic, transparent indium-tin oxide layers, especially for imagers - Google Patents

Method of producing low-ohmic, transparent indium-tin oxide layers, especially for imagers Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0217095A2
EP0217095A2 EP86111441A EP86111441A EP0217095A2 EP 0217095 A2 EP0217095 A2 EP 0217095A2 EP 86111441 A EP86111441 A EP 86111441A EP 86111441 A EP86111441 A EP 86111441A EP 0217095 A2 EP0217095 A2 EP 0217095A2
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
transparency
conductivity
tin oxide
carried out
oxide layers
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EP86111441A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0217095A3 (en
Inventor
Robert Primig
Werner Müller
Helmut Doneyer
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Siemens AG
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Siemens AG
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    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01LSEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L31/00Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof
    • H01L31/18Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment of these devices or of parts thereof
    • H01L31/1884Manufacture of transparent electrodes, e.g. TCO, ITO
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01LSEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L31/00Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof
    • H01L31/02Details
    • H01L31/0224Electrodes
    • H01L31/022466Electrodes made of transparent conductive layers, e.g. TCO, ITO layers
    • H01L31/022475Electrodes made of transparent conductive layers, e.g. TCO, ITO layers composed of indium tin oxide [ITO]

Definitions

  • amorphous hydrogen-containing silicon (a-Si: H) layers produced by plasma-activated gas phase precipitation are used today, and indium tin oxide (ITO) layers are used as transparent electrodes.
  • a-Si: H amorphous hydrogen-containing silicon
  • ITO indium tin oxide
  • the tempering temperature is adapted to the manufacturing temperature of the a-Si: H layer (220 ° C.) and a temperature load that could change the properties of the layer is avoided.
  • FIG. 2 shows the influence of the hydrogen content in the forming gas (nitrogen) on the change in resistance (R T - R FT ) / R T (left ordinate) and the change in transparency (100 - ⁇ T) / 100 (right ordinate).
  • the layer was produced according to the parameters specified in the exemplary embodiment.

Abstract

The indium-tin oxide layers deposited by evaporation or sputtering on amorphous hydrogen-containing silicon layers are subjected to a two-stage heat treatment at a maximum of 200 DEG C. In the first stage the heat treatment is carried out in an oxygen atmosphere to achieve the transparency and in the second stage in a plasma-activated forming gas atmosphere for the conductivity. As a result, while the transparency remains constant (95%), the conductivity is improved by a factor of 7. The method is used in producing transparent electrodes for imagers in office communication. <IMAGE>

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft ein Verfahren zum Herstellen nie­derohmiger, transparenter Indium-Zonnoxid-Schichten, wie sie insbesondere als transparente Elektroden auf aus amorphem, wasserstoffhaltigem Silizium bestehenden Photo­leiterschichten für Bildsensorelemente verwendet werden, durch Aufdampfen oder Aufstäuben der Ausgangsmaterialien in Form von Legierungen oder Oxiden auf die Photoleiter­schicht und nachträgliches Tempern in Sauerstoffatmos­phäre.The invention relates to a method for producing low-resistance, transparent indium zonoxide layers, such as are used in particular as transparent electrodes on photoconductor layers for image sensor elements consisting of amorphous, hydrogen-containing silicon, by vapor deposition or sputtering of the starting materials in the form of alloys or oxides onto the photoconductor layer and subsequent annealing in an oxygen atmosphere.

Bei der Herstellung von Photosensoren werden im wesent­lichen drei Materialien zum Sensorbauelement zusammenge­fügt: eine Photoleiterschicht befindet sich sandwichartig zwischen zwei Elektroden, von denen mindestens eine Elek­trode, nämlich die Deckelektrode, transparent ist und durch ihre Lichtdurchlässigkeit eine Aktivierung des Pho­toleiters ermöglicht.In the manufacture of photosensors, essentially three materials are combined to form the sensor component: a photoconductor layer is sandwiched between two electrodes, of which at least one electrode, namely the top electrode, is transparent and enables the photoconductor to be activated by its translucency.

Für Bildsensorelemente werden heute als Photoleiterschich­ten durch plasmaaktiverten Gasphasenniederschlag herge­stellte amorphe wasserstoffhaltige Silizium (a-Si:H)-­Schichten verwendet, als transparente Elektroden Indium-­Zinnoxid (ITO)-Schichten.For image sensor elements, amorphous hydrogen-containing silicon (a-Si: H) layers produced by plasma-activated gas phase precipitation are used today, and indium tin oxide (ITO) layers are used as transparent electrodes.

Die Anforderungen, die an diese ITO-Schichten gestellt werden, sind: eine hohe Leitfähigkeit bei hoher Trans­parenz (mindestens 95 %). Weitere Einzelheiten über diese Anforderungen und über den Aufbau dieser ITO-Schichten sind einem Bericht von K. L. Chopra et. al. "Transparent Conductors - A Status Review" aus der Zeitschrift Thin Solid Films, 102, (1983) Seiten 1 bis 46 zu entnehmen.The requirements placed on these ITO layers are: high conductivity with high transparency (at least 95%). More details about this Requirements and the structure of these ITO layers are described in a report by KL Chopra et. al. "Transparent Conductors - A Status Review" from Thin Solid Films, 102, (1983) pages 1 to 46.

Für die Herstellung der ITO-Schichten auf Photoleitern aus a-Si:H gibt es mehrere Möglichkeiten. So sind zum Bei­spiel nach einem Aufsatz von Habermeier aus Thin Solid Films 80 (1981), auf den Seiten 157 bis 160 oder aus einem Aufsatz von P. Nath et. al. aus Thin Solid Films 69 (1980), Seiten 63 bis 68, reaktive Aufdampfverfahren für ITO-Schichten zu entnehmen, bei denen die Legierung aus widerstandsbeheizten Wolfram- oder Wolfram/Tantal-Booten bei 420°C bzw. 350°C Substrattemperatur aufgedampft wird. Die Transparenz dieser Schichten liegt zwischen 90 bis 96 %, der gemessene Widerstand bei 20 bis 25 Ohm/□.There are several options for producing ITO layers on a-Si: H photoconductors. For example, according to an article by Habermeier from Thin Solid Films 80 (1981), on pages 157 to 160 or from an article by P. Nath et. al. from Thin Solid Films 69 (1980), pages 63 to 68, reactive vapor deposition processes for ITO layers can be found, in which the alloy from resistance-heated tungsten or tungsten / tantalum boats is vapor-deposited at a substrate temperature of 420 ° C. or 350 ° C. The transparency of these layers is between 90 to 96%, the measured resistance is 20 to 25 Ohm / □.

Aus einem Aufsatz von K. Sreenivas et. al. aus dem J. Appl. Phys. 57 (2) 15.1.1985, Seiten 384 bis 392 ist be­kannt, ITO-Schichten durch HF-Zerstäuben (rf sputtering) der Legierung in Argon/Sauerstoff-Atmosphäre herzustellen und anschließend eine Temperung in Ammoniak bei 350°C durchzuführen. Durch diese Maßnahmen werden Widerstands­werte von 300 Ohm/□ - das sind 5 × 10⁻⁴ Ohm cm - (800 Å Schichtdicke) bei einer Transparenz von 95 % erhalten.From an article by K. Sreenivas et. al. from J. Appl. Phys. 57 (2) 1/15/1985, pages 384 to 392, it is known to produce ITO layers by HF sputtering of the alloy in an argon / oxygen atmosphere and then to carry out a tempering in ammonia at 350 ° C. Through these measures, resistance values of 300 Ohm / □ - that is 5 × 10⁻⁴ Ohm cm - (800 Å layer thickness) with a transparency of 95% are obtained.

Der Erfindung liegt nun die Aufgabe zugrunde, ein Verfah­ren anzugeben, welches die Widerstandswerte bei gleichblei­bender Transparenz noch verbessert. Dabei wurde von der Erkenntnis ausgegangen, daß es durch die bei der Herstel­lung und durch die zur Erzielung der erforderlichen Leit­fähigkeit und Transparenz nach der Herstellung erfolgte Temperaturbelastung von über 300°C zu erheblichen Beein­trächtigungen der Materialeigenschaften des aus a-Si:H bestehenden Photoleiters kommt.The invention is based on the object of specifying a method which improves the resistance values while maintaining transparency. It was based on the knowledge that the temperature load of more than 300 ° C. during production and the achievement of the required conductivity and transparency after production leads to considerable impairments of the material properties of the photoconductor consisting of a-Si: H.

Die Erfindung löst die gestellte Aufgabe bei einem Ver­fahren der eingangs genannten Art dadurch, daß die Tem­perung in zwei Schritten bei Temperaturen von maximal 200°C durchgeführt wird, wobei

  • a) im ersten Schritt zur Erreichung der Transparenz in Sauerstoffatmosphäre und
  • b) im zweiten Schritt für die Leitfähigkeit der Schicht in einer plasmaaktivierten Formiergasatmosphäre ge­tempert wird.
The invention solves this problem in a method of the type mentioned in that the annealing is carried out in two steps at temperatures of a maximum of 200 ° C.
  • a) in the first step to achieve transparency in an oxygen atmosphere and
  • b) in the second step for the conductivity of the layer in a plasma-activated forming gas atmosphere.

Auf diese Weise wird die Tempertemperatur an die Herstell­temperatur der a-Si:H-Schicht (220°C) angepaßt und eine Temperaturbelastung, die die Eigenschaften der Schicht verändern könnte, vermieden.In this way, the tempering temperature is adapted to the manufacturing temperature of the a-Si: H layer (220 ° C.) and a temperature load that could change the properties of the layer is avoided.

Weitere Ausgestaltungen der Erfindung ergeben sich aus den Unteransprüchen.Further refinements of the invention result from the subclaims.

Die Erfindung wird nachfolgend anhand eines Ausführungs­beispieles und der Figuren 1 und 2, welche die erzielten Ergebnisse in bezug auf Transparenz und Leitfähigkeit der Schicht zeigen, noch näher erläutert.The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of an exemplary embodiment and FIGS. 1 and 2, which show the results obtained with regard to the transparency and conductivity of the layer.

Die Prozeßparameter für die Herstellung der erfindungsge­mäßen ITO-Schicht sind folgende:

  • 1. Aufdampfen des in einer Indium-Zinn (20 %)-Legierung vorliegenden Ausgangsmaterials mittels einer Elektro­nenstrahlkanone bei 6 kV und einem Sauerstoff-Partial­druck von 3,5 × 10⁻⁴ mbar; Aufdampfrate: 0,1 nm/sec.
  • 2. Transparenztemperung in Sauerstoff-Atmosphäre, 200°C, ca. 60 Minuten lang.
  • 3. Leitfähigkeitstemperung im Stickstoff-10 % Wasser­ stoff-Plasma mit 40 Watt HF-Leistung bei einem Druck von 1,2 mbar und einer Gasströmung von 50 sccm (Stan­dard ccm) bei 200°C, 30 Minuten lang.
The process parameters for the production of the ITO layer according to the invention are as follows:
  • 1. Evaporation of the starting material present in an indium tin (20%) alloy by means of an electron beam gun at 6 kV and an oxygen partial pressure of 3.5 × 10⁻⁴ mbar; Evaporation rate: 0.1 nm / sec.
  • 2. Transparency tempering in an oxygen atmosphere, 200 ° C, for about 60 minutes.
  • 3. Conductivity annealing in nitrogen-10% water Fabric plasma with 40 watts of HF power at a pressure of 1.2 mbar and a gas flow of 50 sccm (standard ccm) at 200 ° C for 30 minutes.

Durch den zweistufigen Temperprozeß bei einer Temperatur, die nicht höher liegt als die Temperatur, bei der die a-Si:H-Photoleiterschicht hergestellt wurde, wird eine Verbesserung der Leitfähigkeit bei gleichbleibender Trans­parenz der ITO-Schicht um den Faktor 7 erreicht.The two-stage annealing process at a temperature which is not higher than the temperature at which the a-Si: H photoconductor layer was produced improves the conductivity by a factor of 7 while the transparency of the ITO layer remains the same.

Die Figur 1 zeigt in einem Kurvendiagramm die Erniedrigung des Widerstandes (RT - RFT)/RT nach der plasmaaktivierten Formiergastemperung in Abhängigkeit von der Zeit t (min). RT bedeutet Widerstandsmessung nach Sauerstoff-Temperung, RFT ist die Widerstandsmessung nach der plasmaaktivierten Stickstoff-Wasserstoff-Temperung.FIG. 1 shows in a curve diagram the reduction in the resistance (R T - R FT ) / R T after the plasma-activated forming gas heating as a function of the time t (min). R T means resistance measurement after oxygen annealing, R FT is the resistance measurement after plasma activated nitrogen-hydrogen annealing.

In Figur 2 ist der Einfluß des Wasserstoffgehaltes im For­miergas (Stickstoff) auf die Widerstandsänderung (RT - RFT)/ RT (linke Ordinate) und der Transparenzände­rung (100 - ΔT)/100 (rechte Ordinate) dargestellt. Die Schicht wurde hergestellt nach den beim Ausführungsbei­spiel angegebenen Parametern.FIG. 2 shows the influence of the hydrogen content in the forming gas (nitrogen) on the change in resistance (R T - R FT ) / R T (left ordinate) and the change in transparency (100 - ΔT) / 100 (right ordinate). The layer was produced according to the parameters specified in the exemplary embodiment.

Wie aus dem Kurvendiagramm der Figur 2 zu entnehmen ist, liegen die optimalen Transparenz- und Widerstandswerte bei einem Wasserstoffanteil von 10 %.As can be seen from the curve diagram in FIG. 2, the optimal transparency and resistance values are at a hydrogen content of 10%.

Claims (3)

1. Verfahren zum Herstellen niederohmiger, transparenter Indium-Zinnoxid-Schichten, wie sie insbesondere als transparente Elektroden auf aus amorphem, wasserstoff­haltigem Silizium bestehenden Photoleiterschichten für Bildsensorelemente verwendet werden, durch Aufdampfen oder Aufstäuben der Ausgangsmaterialien in Form von Le­gierungen oder Oxiden auf die Photoleiterschicht und nachträgliches Tempern in Sauerstoffatmosphäre, da­durch gekennzeichnet, daß die Tem­perung in zwei Schritten bei Temperaturen von maximal 200°C durchgeführt wird, wobei a) im ersten Schritt zur Erreichung der Transparenz in Sauerstoffatmosphäre und b) im zweiten Schritt für die Leitfähigkeit der Schicht in einer plasmaaktivierten Formiergasatmosphäre ge­tempert wird. 1. A method for producing low-resistance, transparent indium tin oxide layers, such as are used in particular as transparent electrodes on photoconductor layers for image sensor elements made of amorphous, hydrogen-containing silicon, by vapor deposition or sputtering of the starting materials in the form of alloys or oxides onto the photoconductor layer and subsequently Annealing in an oxygen atmosphere, characterized in that the annealing is carried out in two steps at temperatures of a maximum of 200 ° C, wherein a) in the first step to achieve transparency in an oxygen atmosphere and b) in the second step for the conductivity of the layer in a plasma-activated forming gas atmosphere. 2. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, dadurch ge­kennzeichnet, daß die Transparenztemperung in einer Zeitdauer von mindestens 30 und maximal 60 Mi­nuten durchgeführt wird.2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the transparency tempering is carried out in a period of at least 30 and a maximum of 60 minutes. 3. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1 und/oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Leitfähigkeits­temperung in einem Stickstoff-Wasserstoff-Plasma mit 10 % Wasserstoffanteil bei 20 - 100 Watt Leistung, 0,5 -1,5 mbar Druck und einer Gasströmung im Bereich von 20 - 100 sccm in einer Zeitdauer von 15 - 30 Minuten durchgeführt wird.3. The method according to claim 1 and / or 2, characterized in that the conductivity tempering in a nitrogen-hydrogen plasma with 10% hydrogen content at 20 - 100 watts of power, 0.5 -1.5 mbar pressure and a gas flow in the range 20 - 100 sccm is carried out in a period of 15 - 30 minutes.
EP86111441A 1985-09-03 1986-08-19 Method of producing low-ohmic, transparent indium-tin oxide layers, especially for imagers Ceased EP0217095A3 (en)

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DE3531473 1985-09-03

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Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4842705A (en) * 1987-06-04 1989-06-27 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Method for manufacturing transparent conductive indium-tin oxide layers
EP0357289A2 (en) * 1988-08-29 1990-03-07 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Electrically conductive metal oxide coatings
WO1998029902A1 (en) * 1996-12-27 1998-07-09 Radiant Technologies, Inc. Method for restoring the resistance of indium oxide semiconductors after heating while in sealed structures

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS6140735A (en) * 1984-07-31 1986-02-27 ヴイエナ・ソ−セ−ジ・マニユフアクチユアリング・カンパニ− Pastry wrapping sausage and its production

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2443746A1 (en) * 1978-12-08 1980-07-04 Exxon Research Engineering Co Photocell, esp. solar cell giving efficient conversion - has transparent oxide electrode with low work function and selenium layer bonded by tellurium film (NL 10.6.80)
JPS60141862A (en) * 1983-12-29 1985-07-26 Fujitsu Ltd Manufacture of electrically conductive transparent film

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2443746A1 (en) * 1978-12-08 1980-07-04 Exxon Research Engineering Co Photocell, esp. solar cell giving efficient conversion - has transparent oxide electrode with low work function and selenium layer bonded by tellurium film (NL 10.6.80)
JPS60141862A (en) * 1983-12-29 1985-07-26 Fujitsu Ltd Manufacture of electrically conductive transparent film

Non-Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN, Band 9, Nr. 306 (C-317)[2029], 3. Dezember 1985; & JP-A-60 141 862 (FUJITSU K.K.) 26-07-1985 *
SOLAR CELLS, Band 13, Nr. 3, Januar 1985, Seiten 265-269, Elsevier Sequoia, Lausanne, CH; A. MADAN et al.: "New type of contact coating for amorphous silicon solar cells" *
THIN SOLID FILMS, Band 102, Nr. 1, April 1983, Elsevier Sequoia, Lausanne, CH; K.L. CHOPRA et al.: "Transparent conductors - a status review" *

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4842705A (en) * 1987-06-04 1989-06-27 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Method for manufacturing transparent conductive indium-tin oxide layers
EP0357289A2 (en) * 1988-08-29 1990-03-07 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Electrically conductive metal oxide coatings
EP0357289A3 (en) * 1988-08-29 1990-10-31 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Electrically conductive metal oxide coatings
WO1998029902A1 (en) * 1996-12-27 1998-07-09 Radiant Technologies, Inc. Method for restoring the resistance of indium oxide semiconductors after heating while in sealed structures

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EP0217095A3 (en) 1989-03-29
JPS6255811A (en) 1987-03-11

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